OSHA Cites Texas Shipbuilder for Safety Hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Texas-based shipbuilder for safety violations. The agency has proposed penalties against the company, Sneed Shipbuilding Inc. in Channelview, Texas.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Houston office, the agency began its investigation  of the company on June 7 at the company’s shipyard. Some of the most serious violations that the agency found were failure to ensure proper use of lockout equipment, failure to provide training in confined spaces, failure to repair brain parts, and damaged building cables.

The inspections also found repeat violations including failure to repair damaged electrical outlets and cables. The company also failed to provide fire extinguishers for workers. Sneed Shipbuilding has approximately 150 employees. The company has been given a copy of the citations, and has fifteen days to comply.

Shipyard, ship repair, and shipbuilding workers may be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act. These workers do not qualify as Jones at seaman, and are therefore, not covered under the Jones Act. However, they do qualify for compensation under a separate set of laws called the LHWCA.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act provides for compensation for injured workers along patterns that are similar to those found in Workers Compensation laws of Texas. A worker does not have to prove fault to be eligible for compensation, but compensation may be limited to certain types of damages only.

The maritime law attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent injured longshoremen, crane operators, stevedores and other workers who qualify under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.